MARK 14:10-11
‘Then Judas…went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them’ (v. 10)
This verse follows immediately after the anointing Jesus in Bethany. It seems as if it was that incident which made Judas decide to go to the priests and betray Jesus. It is of course a matter of speculation trying to understand why Judas betrayed Jesus. John more than implies Judas was embezzling the disciples’ funds (John 12:6) and so one could guess that he did for personal gain.
It seems more likely, however, that his reaction when Jesus is condemned gives a clue as to his motivation. Matthew tells of how ‘when Judas…realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse’ (Mat. 27:3 NLT). Some commentaries suggest that Judas was disappointed with the way things were developing. As Jesus showed no sign of commencing the struggle against the oppressors, maybe Judas thought he could force his hand by engineering a confrontation? It seems as if it was when it dawned on him things were not working out as expected he regretted his action – that it had never been his intention that Jesus should be condemned, quite the opposite.
Such speculations make little difference to our lives and faith today. What we can learn from this incident though, is to question whose agenda we are following in our lives with Jesus? Judas had his own agenda, and he tried to use Jesus to further it. Our agenda probably is not an armed uprising, but maybe prosperity, health, position, or a host of other things. Whatever it is, when Jesus calls us to follow him, he also calls us to give up our own agenda and fully live for his.
Let us learn from Judas not to follow our own agenda, but to consider ‘everything a loss compared to the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord’ (Phil. 3:8) and ask his Spirit to reveal to us where this is not the case.